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Guides
This Is Why Your Bong Stinks
It's that time. You're about to load a fresh bowl in your favorite piece and you notice that horrible stench. Oh no, it's your bong. So now you've noticed that your bong stinks. Here's why and what you can do about it. You’re Not Changing the Water Enough This one is obvious, right? You’d think so, but a lot of stoners do not change their bong water enough and that is one of the main reasons why your bong stinks. A lot of people think that changing it every day is enough, but it’s really not. You should be changing the water every time you use it, that is if you want to keep your glass nice and unfunkified. When water sits stagnant for long periods of time it starts to accumulate bacteria, and then it starts to smell. Combine that with the groadies that collect on the sides of your bong and you’ve got a stink bomb on your hands. The more frequently you leave water in your bong, the less time it will take to collect build up and start to stink. Clean your bong after each use. I know cleaning a bong last thing that you want to do after a good sesh, but if you do it enough, it becomes a habit. Your glass will stay fresh so much longer. Your bong will thank you. Your Bong Is Plastic If you’re a real adult then you should have invested money in a quality glass piece by now. For those of you who are still smoking out of a plastic bong, you should be aware that all plastic bongs stink. Even if you’re really diligent about cleaning it, your bong stinks. Anyone who’s had a plastic bong is knows that they smell bad to begin with. Eventually the stale bong smell that we all despise permeates the plastic and that’s pretty much it for your piece. That smell will never come out. You've Got Too Much Resin Built Up That bong gunk that I mentioned earlier? That’s resin build up. That’s the main reason why your bong stinks. When you don’t clean out your bong enough and/or you let the water sit in there too long then the resin starts to build up, and damn that stuff stinks. If you want to prevent resin from building up in your bong then you should clean it after every use. When I say clean, I mean rinse out with iso alcohol, salt, and water. Emptying and changing the water can only do so much. Another way resin builds up quicker is if you are sucking your bowls through. This is why you should be smoking with a screen at all times. If your bong already stinks then it’s even more imperative that you start practicing good bong hygiene habits. You should probably go clean your bong after you read this. If you’ve invested the money into a nice high quality glass piece, then you really should take the time to care for it. In my earlier smoking days I did not take care of my pieces as well as I should have and I regret that. Cleaning my bong is not that much of a hassle. I find the process a pretty relaxing to tell you the truth. It’s all part of owning good glass. Your weed also tastes a lot better when you’re smoking out of a clean piece. You know this. Take care of your piece. Image Source: YouTube Got anything to add about the importance of bong maintenance? Share in the comments below!
The Rise Of Cannabis Coupons: Finding Discounted Weed
Since 1887, coupons have changed the way commerce operates. Coupons not only changed how customers bought products, but they drastically changed marketing styles and sales techniques. Every great industry has implemented the use of coupons: grocery, technology, clothing, and now, cannabis. Welcome to the Future of Cannabis Commerce Integrating coupons into the cannabis economy is a wise and important step forward for all cannabusiness. Coupons are excellent tools for businesses and obviously valuable for consumers, but where can you find cannabis coupons? Of course you could spend your time flipping through page after page of newspapers and coupon books, or, you could wise up and turn to the internet. Leafbuyer, currently the largest cannabis coupon site in the United States, promises consumers there's no better way to save money when buying medical and recreational cannabis. The website offers to connect every customer with their ideal coupon, whether they're looking for an ounce special, competitively-priced concentrates, or even edibles. If you're simply not sure what you're looking for, Leafbuyer allows users to search all available deals in their local area after inputting their location. The Colorado-based Leafbuyer offers a truly unique and essential service for any casual toker or medical marijuana patient. Gone are the days of clipping out coupons out of your local paper, internet-services like Leafbuyer easily connect customers with their dream deal. If you’re an active cannabis connoisseur, you know just how important it is to find your herb or concentrates at a reasonable price. What you might not know is how much coupons help dispensaries, too. Limited time offers, blowout sales, and gifts with purchase (like a free pre-rolled joint with the purchase of an ounce) help keep legalized cannabis sales competitive and fair. Sales and the use of coupons also allow dispensaries to push out product that might be priced too high normally, or simply has been in stock for too long. Cannabis coupons allows dispensaries to rotate their inventory to maintain the freshest, highest quality cannabis available, and they also encourage customers to take advantage of these deals to buy new strains and other items that they might not have been able to afford without the discount. In addition to an amazing coupon service, Leafbuyer proves to be a one-stop-shop for valuable information when shopping for cannabis. From a Power List of the most influential cannabusiness leaders, to the 2016 Best of the Best, a showcase of the top dispensaries for flower and concentrates, or, if you’re looking to make your mark on the cannabis economy, take a look at Leafbuyer’s Job Board. Leafbuyer's innovative approach to coupons and internet presence gives it unprecedented access to the best deals on cannabis products available. Due to Leafbuyer's real-time access to local dispensaries they have access to exclusive and time-sensitive offers that you won't be able to find anywhere else. Leafbuyer doesn't stop at just giving you access to the sweetest deals around, it gives you the materials necessary to make informed decisions for your next cannabis purchase. --- Take a look at some of the sweet deals on Leafbuyer today!
Marijuana Withdrawal, Is It Real?
Let's start with the basics, detoxing is what happens the first few days to weeks after you stop putting whatever your substance of choice is into your body, this still applies to cannabis. When your body is detoxing, it is releasing the residual toxins from whatever you've been using/drinking (yes, this is also the same thing that happens when alcoholics stop drinking). Detox can usually be signified by specific symptoms, getting seriously unpleasant depending on the stuff that's being depleted from your system. So exactly how is cannabis detox different from others? And is it going to be as nasty as the stories of other detoxes you've heard about? The truth is that, yes, cannabis is quite different from other drugs when detoxing. The main reasoning is due to the fact that there still is no proof claiming that residual THC in your blood stream is toxic and unlikely causes any physical withdrawal symptoms in an individual trying to stop toking. Let me repeat, there is no proof to suggest that cannabis directly causes withdrawal symptoms. Then why do people still say they experience symptoms of withdrawal when taking a break from cannabis? Although cannabis has been proven to not release toxins into your bloodstream that cause physical symptoms, your psychological state can also causes symptoms just as real. Depending on how reliant you are on cannabis, like if you use it to help you sleep at night, how much time you spend high versus sober, or even if you simply use cannabis to relieve stress, these things will affect your mental state during your detox. Symptoms: There have been reports all across the web from 'no symptoms' all the way to 'worst week of my life.' It appears that one of the most common symptoms that is experienced (and one that I know I have experienced in the past) is insomnia, this can last from just a few nights, to a few weeks, and in extreme cases, a couple months. There have also been reports of mood-swings, irritability, and other emotionally destabilizing symptoms. As far as physical symptoms are concerned, the one that I hear most people experience is headaches, varying from very mild to constant discomfort. Another common symptom that many individuals abstaining from cannabis experiences is that of hunger, and it's different from person-to-person. Some individuals feel as if they have the munchies all the time, whereas others feel unable to eat for days on end, even claiming to experience nausea at times. Others suffer from excessive sweating, both awake and while sleeping. (I know that I get hand-sweats when I stop smoking. Weirdest thing ever, in my opinion.) Generally, most people only experience these symptoms for a couple days to a week, but it mainly depends on how heavy of a cannabis smoker you are, and how long you have been smoking. Other factors also determine how long your symptoms will last, such as your current psychological state, your level of daily activity, (if you exercise regularly the detox will go a lot smoother, I promise), and your diet prior and during your detox. (Pretend you're a fish, bro. Drink plenty of water.) But wait, here's the kicker: Many of you will not experience any symptoms at all. You may just be able to go back and forth from toker to sober at will, possibly because you take good care of yourselves. Feature Image Source: FoxNews.com --- Have you experienced cannabis withdrawals? Share your story in the comments!
5 Things You Must Know To Become A Budtender
These days everyone wants to become a budtender. I don’t blame them, being a budtender would be a pretty amazing job. Before you attempt to become one, there are some things that you should know. A passion for cannabis is a great start, but there are some things that every good budtender must know. Have Some Knowledge Of Cannabis Before attempting to become a budtender, you should definitely have some rudimentary knowledge of cannabis. No, I do not mean knowing how to smoke it. I mean you should know the difference between indica and sativa. You should also know what they do. For example, sativas are more psychoactive, whereas indicas give the user a more relaxing high. You should probably be able to recognize indicas and sativas on sight, which you won’t be perfect at first, but you’ll probably pick it up pretty quickly. Medical Benefits Of Cannabis If you want to be a good budtender, then you should definitely know a lot about the medical benefits of cannabis. Potential customers are going to be asking you what strains are the best for treating headaches, anxiety, etc. For example, if a customer asks you what strain would be best to help them with anxiety, you should know to recommend an indica. Basic Knowledge Of Concentrates Concentrates are quickly becoming the most popular way to consume cannabis, so you should absolutely know what concentrates are, and you should know the different types: wax, budder, shatter, honey, etc. You should also know more than a thing or two about dabbing, such as the different types of dab rigs, nails, and you get the idea. Along with dabbing, you should also have extensive knowledge of vaping. Be up to date on all the new ways of consuming cannabis. How Dosing Works All good budtenders should know a lot about edibles and dosing. Customers are going to be asking you a lot of questions about the different types of edibles available. Different edibles do different things and there are a LOT of varieties of edibles on the market. You should know about everything from candies to cannabis infused drinks. Cannabis Laws Dispensaries are required to follow a lot of strict laws in order to stay in business, so you need to know everything about compliance laws in your area. Selling customers products that are not compliant with your state or country’s laws could not only lose you your job, your dispensary could lose their license as well. Being a budtender is a fun and rewarding job for sure, but before you attempt to be one, you need to make sure that you are knowledgeable in all of these things. Few people start their careers right off as a budtender. They usually start off as a cashier first to gain the experience and expertise that they need. Be wary of certification programs, as some of them are not what they claim to be. It helps to know someone who actually works in the industry. There’s a lot of things that you need to know, so it’s a good thing that researching cannabis is a lot of fun. Featured Image Source: MerryJane.com --- Are you looking to become a budtender? Are you already one and have some advice to give? Share in the comments!
Spoon Pipe vs Sherlock Pipe: Which Is The Superior Smoking Device?
Spoon pipes are reliable and you can generally find them everywhere. Sherlock pipes are cool looking and not as common. Both suit a stoner’s smoking needs just fine. Spoon pipes are better than sherlock pipes for some reasons and vice versa. Which one is the superior smoking device? You be the judge. Spoon Pipes Are Easier To Clean Spoon pipes are easier to clean than sherlock pipes because of the way that they are shaped. Getting resin from a sherlock pipe can be a huge hassle, especially if you have a sherlock with a huge dip. There’s always resin that you just can’t reach when you try to clean it out with a bobby pin, or whatever it is that you prefer to scrape with. Of course you can always boil it to clean it, but then you won’t be able to save resin if you get desperate. Spoon Pipes Don’t Clog As Quickly Sherlock pipes tend to get clogged more often than a spoon pipe, again because of the way that they’re shaped. It’s harder to empty a cashed bowl in a sherlock pipe because you can’t tap it against your palm to empty it, the way you can with a spoon pipe. If you are using a sherlock, you’ll definitely want to use a screen to prevent clogging. Spoon Pipes Are Cheaper Spoon pipes are usually cheaper than sherlock pipes. If you need a pipe and don’t have a lot of extra dough to spend on a piece, then a spoon pipe is probably your best bet. Spoon pipes are also easier to replace when they break. Spoon Pipes Can Be Fixed If you break your spoon pipe, you can usually put it back together using epoxy. That is, unless you’ve broken it into a million tiny pieces. Once you put it back together it usually hits just fine. Depending on where you broke a sherlock you might not be able to put it back together, and if you do, it won’t hit the same. Sherlock Pipes Are More Ergonomic Sherlock pipes are more ergonomic, meaning they fit into your hand better. Why do you think tobacco pipes are shaped this way? The way that a sherlock pipe fits into your hand means that you are less likely to drop it when you’re stoned. I’ve never dropped a sherlock pipe, except for one time when it was in my lap and I forgot it was there. If you have both types, try holding one in each hand, you’ll definitely notice a difference. Sherlock Pipes Look Cooler Sherlock pipes look cool and they make anyone holding one look cooler too. You just feel classy when you’re holding a well-made sherlock pipe. I like to pretend that I’m Gandalf the Grey when I’m smoking from a sherlock. Sherlock pipes tend to be thicker than some spoon pipes, which means that they are usually higher quality. Sherlock Pipes Hit Stronger The carb in a sherlock pipe is typically larger than a spoon pipe, which means that it gives you a bigger hit, closer to the size of a hit that you would get from a smaller bubbler. The bowl of a sherlock pipe is also bigger, so the bowl smokes longer, making it better for group settings or smokers with a higher tolerance. Sherlock pipes get you higher, so that would be an automatic win, right? Sherlock Pipes Are More Unique Spoon pipes are the more common of the two. Pretty much everyone I know has one or two. Sherlock pipes are a little more difficult to find, unless you live by a head shop. All spoon pipes are shaped the same, whereas most sherlock pipes are shaped differently (kind of like snowflakes). Glass artists tend to personalize their sherlock pipes. A sherlock is a real work of art. There are pros and cons of smoking from either a sherlock or spoon pipe. Both work great for your smoking needs. I’ve owned probably about thirty spoon pipes in my lifetime, and only two sherlocks. When one of my spoon pipes would break, I was sad, but I would move on pretty quickly and just buy another one. The last sherlock I broke, it was like losing a close friend. I’m getting sad again just thinking about it now. I know which type I prefer, but my smoking devices are like my children: I love them all for different reasons. Featured Image Source: WashingtonPost.com --- Which type of pipe do you prefer? Share in the comments!
7 Ways To Know You've Got Really Dank Bud
When you first enter the wonderful world of weed, you might not know if what you’re smoking is actually dank bud. Eventually you get to the point where you can spot dank buds on sight, but until then, here’s how you know if what you’re smoking is actually dank bud. The Smell Dank cannabis is going to smell either really skunky, or fruity depending on the strain and whether it’s an indica or a sativa. Dirt weed is going to smell more more like dirt, mold, or possibly chemicals depending on how it was grown. It’ll Be Covered In Crystals Really dank bud is going to be covered in THC crystals. When you touch a nug of dank cannabis your fingers should be covered in crystals, similar to the orange dust that covers your fingers after polishing off a bag of Cheetos. Crappy cannabis, on the other hand, will not be covered in crystals. No Stems Or Seeds Dank greens will have hardly any stems and usually no seeds. You’re usually good to just drop a fresh nug right in your pipe, without grinding it. Dirt weed is filled with nothing but stems and seeds. You have to break it apart before you even consider smoking it, lest you accidentally smoke a seed and make the entire bowl taste like shit. The Taste The taste of your cannabis is a huge indicator of how dank it is. Super dank bud will taste delicious. Depending on if you’re smoking an indica or sativa it may taste slightly fruity. Hits of dank bud are smooth and you will definitely cough less. Dirt weed will taste like it smells: like dirt. Your hit will be very harsh and you will definitely cough a lot. The High The high that you get from some really dank bud is undeniably better, than a high from dirt weed. A dank high is much cleaner feeling and way more relaxing. Mentally and physically you feel amazing. The high from dirt weed does not even come close to a dank high. Dirt weed usually just makes you feel kinda high for twenty minutes, and then it always turned into a headache for me. The Color Dank bud will mainly be bright green with some purple and orange mixed in, depending on the strain. Dank will be very pretty to look it, from both the color and the crystals. If your bud is brightly colored and it glitters, then you’ve for sure got some good dank. Dirt weed will be more brown than green and it won’t be that pleasant to look at. The Texture The dankest buds are going to be sticky and somewhat moist, which is one of the reasons it’s called dank. You might have heard people say that their cannabis is so sticky, that it sticks to the wall. One time, I actually did come across some super dank bud that really did stick to my wall for a second. That was some good grass. In contrast, dirt weed will be really dry and crumble when you touch it. It’s usually pretty obvious if you’re smoking dank bud, but sometimes you get some cannabis that looks pretty alright and then it turns out to be some of the nastiest you’ve ever smoked. Luckily, now you know what to look for. Featured Image Source: StonerCulture.com --- How do you know if you’ve got dank bud? Share in the comments!
Things You Can Put Into Your Bong Besides Water
After you’ve been smoking a while, bong hits become routine. That’s why some stoners like to use things besides water in their bong. What else could you possibly put in there besides water? You’d be surprised! Here’s what some innovative, or perhaps just curious stoners have put in their bongs. Honestly, I would only recommend trying some of these with a bong that you don’t care that much about. Soda Putting soda in a bong is fairly common, surprisingly. Some smokers say that the carbonation feels amazing, and others say that it’s harsh as hell. One soda lover said that he likes to wait until the soda is flat before using it. I actually have tried this one before. We were on a road trip and had no water, so we poured Coke in the bong. It was gross and I would never do it again. If you were going to put soda in there, it would probably be better to use Sprite or 7-Up. Some have reported that it makes your hit really smooth and refreshing, which sounds just like a commercial if you ask me. Tea Many stoners prefer to use warmer water in their bongs for a number of reasons. Some adventurous stoners have taken the next step, and put hot tea in their bongs. Apparently this is really helpful when you have a sore throat, which as you know makes smoking from a bong much more difficult. Of the water substitutes that people have used over the years, this one sounds a bit more reasonable, and it would be easier to clean afterward than soda would. I might actually try it. Mouthwash Smokers who have tried using mouthwash in their bong say they absolutely loved it. Apparently it makes your hit taste minty fresh. Some who’ve tried it said that they had fresh breath afterward and no cottonmouth. I’ve never tried this one either and I don’t think I will, mainly because mouthwash is expensive, and cleaning it is probably a chore. Fruit Juice If you’re craving something sweet, and don’t want to use soda, you could always try fruit juice! Though probably not as sticky as soda, fruit juice seems like it would still make a bit of a mess. However, fruit juice apparently makes your hit taste delicious. You’ve gotta get your daily recommended amount of Vitamin C somehow, right? Flavored Water Using flavored water like Vitamin Water, is pretty popular in some circles. Flavored water is one of the most reasonable alternatives to water, since it is still water after all. I’m told that like fruit juice, flavored water makes your hit taste awesome. There are so many different varieties of flavored water, you’re bound to like at least one of them. Snow It’s not exactly a water alternative, but still different. I’ve never heard of anyone putting snow in their bong, but this is pretty popular in colder areas of the world. Apparently the snow melts just fast enough for it to be feasible, but slow enough that it keeps your bong very cold. Make sure that you are using clean snow though. Remember the saying “don’t eat yellow snow”? The same goes for smoking it. Milk Putting milk in your bong sounds like it would be absolutely disgusting. I really don’t think you should do it, but if you’re that curious, go for it. Some tokers like to use chocolate milk because it makes your hit taste just like a milkshake. Finally you get to blow bubbles in your chocolate milk without getting in trouble for it. If you start laughing mid-hit and milk comes out your nose, you’ve probably used too much. Food Coloring This is by far the most acceptable thing to put in your bong because you’re still using water. Food coloring won’t make a mess and it does not affect the taste of your bud. Using food coloring also looks really cool if you have a multi chambered bong. Most of these I would never dream of trying because, ew. Cleaning a bong is already kind of a hassle, but cleaning a bong after it’s had milk or soda in it sounds like the most annoying chore ever. Some people though, really like not using water and I won’t judge them for it. You do whatever makes you happy. Just try not to ruin a perfectly good bong. Featured Image Source: Youtube-CustomGrow420 --- Have you tried using any of these? Do you plan to after reading this? Let us know in the comments!
What To Do With Your Resin
The worst has happened to you: you’ve run out of cannabis. For one reason or another, you cannot get more until tomorrow or *shudder* the day after. There is an option. You might not like it, but you can smoke the resin that has been building up in your piece since the last time you cleaned it. Smoke It Straight This is the most obvious and also one of the least palatable solutions. Scrape your pipe with a bobby pin, paper clip, or some other metal apparatus. If you have never scraped a smoking pipe before, you’ll get better results if you heat it first. Wait for it to start smoking, and then start scraping. The heat will liquefy your resin, making it easier to extract. Once you’ve got what you need, roll it into a ball, load it and smoke up. Be wary, it will be harsh and you will cough. Combine With Shake Or Kief If you have a giant, black resin ball and the thought of smoking it straight gives you a headache, you also have the option of taking your resin and rolling it around in any leftover shake or kief you’re sure to have lying around. If you don’t think you have any lying around, trust me, you do. The first place to check is your grinder. You should have a pretty nice supply built up in there. The next place, will be your stash jar. Look in the corners, you should have a fine layer in there. If you save your baggies, you can also find some leftover shake in there. One time when I was out, I went through my collection of leftover bags, and I found enough shake that I didn’t even need the resin anymore. Take Knife Hits With It Exercise caution if you’re going to take resin knife hits. This is the best way to use resin, in my opinion because it will get you really high. The caveat is that the hit is ridiculously harsh, especially if you take knife hits using a bong and a bell apparatus, as I do. Don’t make gigantic hits, a little will go a long way. If you make your hit too big, you’ll cough till you puke, and end up with a headache. Try To Make Resin Hash I’ve never personally done this because the process a) was more effort than I’ve ever wanted to put into smoking resin and b) seems like it would be really gross. According to the internet, it works. You can take your resin and soak it in isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol for an hour or so. Filter the liquid through a coffee filter or cheesecloth and smoke what’s left after it’s dried out. Again, I’ve never done this one before, so do at your own risk. Give To A Friend In Need If you prefer to just go without than smoke resin, you can always give it away. You know the saying, “A friend with weed is a friend indeed.” The same applies to resin. A smoker who is both out of cannabis and between paychecks certainly qualifies as a friend in need. Your friend will be forever in your debt and likely to smoke you out when they re-up. Also, don’t try to sell your resin. That’s just rude. I personally don’t like smoking resin and haven’t in years, but I remember what it was like to want to catch a buzz and have no options. Smoking resin will get you mildly high, but it won’t last long and you’ll probably end up with a headache. Smoking resin is also not healthy because you’re smoking tar and waste products. If you find that you’re constantly smoking resin, you should really learn how to manage your supply better. Do you like smoking with a pipe and are you looking for a new one? Check out our smoking pipes and take a look at the popular glass pipes. Featured Image Source: PhotoBucket.com--- How have you coped with being out of cannabis? Have you ever tried to make resin hash? Let us know in the comments!
Stoner Survival Kit: Your Guide To Not Being Ripped Off
When you first begin smoking, the world of weed might seem pretty overwhelming at first. You’ll learn most of what you need to know as you go. Until then, here’s your guide to not being ripped off. Be Chill With Your Dealer Your dealer is your life force and you want to avoid pissing him or her off. Maintain a good relationship with them. That means don’t be too persistent when you are trying to pick up. Remember that your dealer is a person with their own life, which doesn’t revolve around you buying cannabis from them. If they say to call them in three hours, don’t call them three times in an hour. This is bad etiquette, and can also lead to both of you getting caught. Be respectful and they will be good to you. If your dealer wants you to come chill sometime, you should take them up on this offer. Also important is not overstaying your welcome. You don’t want to be a lingerer. Have Your Own Scale If it’s pretty obvious that you are a novice, some dealers might try to get away with selling you a lighter bag. Most people that I’ve dealt with consider this to be an ultimate breach in stoner etiquette and won’t pull this trick, but it does happen, especially if you’re not chill with your dealer (see above). You should definitely get your own scale, if you are going through a person who insists that they know how to eyeball. This is especially important if you are buying in quantity Ask Questions If you are new to the market and not sure what you are buying, ask questions. This will make you seem like you want to learn about the process. If you’re not sure how much should be in a single, ask. When they are weighing it out, ask to see what the scale reads. Tell them you’re curious and trying to be the most responsible smoker you can be. This is better than staying silent. They will assume you don’t really care. Pay Them On Time If you are at the point in your relationship with your dealer, where they allow you to front make sure you pay them on time! Your dealer is showing that they trust you and it is your responsibility to maintain that trust. If you say that you will pay them next Tuesday, you’d better pay them on Tuesday ASAP. Unpaid fronts fall on your dealer and making them pay out of their own pocket will piss them off and ruin your relationship. On the same subject, make sure that you have your money when you go to pick up, especially if you’re just starting out with this person. Don’t try to pull the “Oh, I’m short five dollars, can you spot me just this once,” trick, unless you have a good rapport with your dealer. If you find that you are short, don’t let it happen again. Lastly, pay with large bills, and never pay with change. Learn How To Spot Fake Cannabis I really hope no one pulls this anymore because it is the biggest dick move in the stoner world. Shady dealers might try to sell you oregano mixed with a bit of honey to make it stick together. I’ve seen people try to sell novices catnip. Luckily, both are easy to spot and are recognizable by their smell. Now that synthetic cannabis (aka spice or K2) is around someone might try to trick you with that. Learn how to recognize the appearance and smell of the real deal. Hopefully you never have to deal with someone who is trying to rip you off, but some people are jerks and will try to regardless. If you do end up getting ripped off, then you’ll know what to look for next time. You’ll also know it’s time to find a new dealer. Featured Image Source: CollegeMagazine.com (Pineapple Express Movie) --- Do you have any advice for novices? Let us know in the comments!
5 Ways To Give Yourself A "Higher" High
After you’ve been smoking cannabis for a while you begin to develop a tolerance. That’s just the way your body works. Some stoners just smoke more weed, but this is expensive. Some suggest quitting for a couple weeks to lower your tolerance. Quitting works, but that’s no fun.As it turns out, there are many ways to give yourself a “higher” high, which are also good for you! Take 5-htp Prior To Smoking 5-Hydroxytryptophan is a naturally occurring amino acid and metabolic intermediate which helps stimulate the production of serotonin in the body. 5-Hydroxytryptophan aka 5-htp is also sold over the counter as a nutritional supplement. It is also legal and widely available at stores nationwide. Next time you smoke, try taking two capsules before you plan on getting high. Since 5-htp stimulates serotonin production, you’ll experience more of that euphoric feeling that you got when you first started smoking. Be sure to only take 5-htp as directed. Do not take 5-htp if you are already taking anti-depressants. Eat Fruits Rich In Myrcene Cannabis contains a terpene, or an unsaturated hydrocarbon which helps deliver THC more effectively to the brain. Myrcene is also in mangoes, lemongrass, and hops. The higher the quality of your cannabis, the more myrcene is in it. Try eating a mango or drinking tea containing lemongrass 45 minutes to an hour before you plan on smoking. You might be surprised how much higher you get and how much longer your high lasts. Eat Dark Chocolate There is a reason why stoners always crave chocolate. It’s because cacao and THC work really well together. This is because cacao releases the neurotransmitter anandamide, which is known as the “bliss chemical” in your brain. Why do you think pot brownies work so well? Why dark chocolate? Dark chocolate has a higher percentage of cacao. The higher the cacao, the higher your high. Get Off The Couch Here’s another reason for you to start working out, like you’ve been saying you would do. Doing cardiovascular exercises after you work out, will not only boost your heart rate, it will also boost your high. Recent studies conducted by the University of Sydney in Australia have shown that working out for just thirty minutes after smoking a bowl will not only increase the potency, but also the length of your high. That’s an excellent reason not to sit on the couch and binge watch Netflix. Eat Some Curry Most curries contain a yellow spice known as turmeric. Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, has been reported to enhance a cannabis high to the point where it feels like the first time you got baked. This is partly because curcumin also works as a mild antidepressant, in addition to being an anti inflammatory. As an added bonus, curcumin is known to help prevent cancer. Go get some Indian food after smoking down. I have tested all of these methods and I can tell you that they not only work, they work really well. Exercise caution when taking nutritional supplements such as 5-htp as they can counteract any current medications you might be taking. Take supplements only as directed, and do not take more than you need. Featured Image Source: Youtube --- Have you tried any of these? Have they worked for you? Do you have any of your own tricks for getting a “higher high?” Let us know in the comments!
Tired Of Hacking Up A Lung? Get Smoother Hits
There are so many enjoyable moments when smoking cannabis, from the exhilaration to the taste, even the smells and sights that come with it, but for all of these enjoyable moments, there is still one moment that can overpower all of the others. A rough draw can leave your throat raw, hot, and might throw you into a crazy coughing fit. If you're going for the largest rips possible, this might be normal for you, and you're cool with it, but if you're just trying to create a more pleasurable toking experience for yourself with some smoother hits, check out these helpful tips! 1. Ice The simplest way to smoothen your hits is to make the smoke cooler. Generally if you're smoking with a waterpipe you're already reducing the temperature with smoke percolating in the water, but many pieces also come with specific notches or holds for ice within the piece for extra cooling. If your piece doesn't have ice catchers, put ice in the base of your piece, or in your gravity bong water, reducing the temperature of the water will work just as well as letting the smoke pass right over the ice. 2. Half-breath, half-hit Many people first start smoking pot with the assumption that stoners always take a full breath of pure, milky smoke. While this is true for many stoners, it's not the whole truth. In fact, many, many, stoners will take half of a breath of clean air before starting their hit. This makes it so that the clean air mixes with the smoke in your lungs so that it isn't as harsh of a hit. This is how I still smoke to this day, and it especially helped me when I first started smoking joints and spliffs! 3. Slower, less powerful draws The faster you try to inhale your hit, the more force you're going to be pulling through the pipe or joint. The more force you have in your inhales, the harsher of a hit you're going to have. When you rush your draw you bring in extreme heat and particulates into your throat and lungs in a rapid manner that can shock your body into coughing, also, the more force you put into your hits the more likely you are to pull some of that bud right back into your mouth or throat. Nothing stops a hit mid-motion like Scooby Snacks do, so just take your time and take some deep, slow, draws for the smoothest experience. 4. Staying hydrated In my time, most of the stoners that I have met were totally unaware that Cotton Mouth can be the effect of toking and dehydration. Staying hydrated while smoking is incredibly important not only for a smoother draw, but to support body health (duh). If you want to have continuously harsh hit after harsh hit, don't drink any liquids, or better yet, drink soda. Water is irreplaceable to soothe your throat and lungs when toking, personally, since starting smoking cannabis I have never gone anywhere without a full water-bottle. 5. Practice, practice, practice. Much of your ability to have a smooth hit will stem from how much experience you have smoking, and how you approach it. Although it is true that the bigger of hits you try to take the more likely it is to be rough, however if you shy away from big hits always, they'll always have that effect. Consider this the 'Trial by Fire' method, taking fat rips may damage your lungs for a few moments, but you'll find that these experiences help forge lungs of steel that can rip it all day long with little worry. Featured Image Source: tumblr --- These are the few big ways that I know how to get a silky smooth hit, but what else can you do for that perfect draw? Let us know in the comments!
How to smoke without a lighter? Try these alternatives!
So, you’ve got a fresh bowl loaded and you’re anticipating that first hit from your bong or bubbler, then you realize that you don’t have a lighter or matches. Luckily, there are ways to smoke without one. You just have to be creative. 4 Ways to smoke your bowl, blunt or joint without a lighter Knifehits Knifehits are the go to solution for the stoner without a flame. All you need is a stove, some metal knives, and an empty bottle to make a “freezer buddy” to inhale your cannabis. To start, you’ll want to heat your knives on the stove. I prefer to stick my knives directly into the burner, so they’re easier to grab once they’re heated up. Laying them directly on the burner will work just fine. While your knives are heating up, you’ll need to make your freezer buddy. Take an empty one liter soda bottle, and cut off the bottom of the bottle. Once you’ve got that done, stick it in the freezer for about five minutes. I prefer to use glass, as it tastes better and seems to get cold faster, I wouldn’t recommend it if you aren’t a pro at breaking glass. Once your knives are sufficiently hot enough (in my experience ten minutes is a good length of time) take your buddy out of your freezer and hold it in your mouth so that both hands are free. Use one knife to pick up your bud, and press it on the other knife. Inhale the smoke through the bottle. You can also take a knife hit without a freezer buddy, but you’ll lose a lot more smoke without it. Serving yourself is tricky and it takes a lot of practice. Try it with friends first, if at all possible. Magnifying Glass Did you ever burn ants with a magnifying glass when you were a kid? Me neither, that would be cruel. As you learned in science you can start fires using a magnifying glass and the light of the sun. While sitting outside, during the daytime obviously take a magnifying glass and hold it over your bowl. If you’ve never started a fire using a magnifying glass before, it’s pretty simple. You hold the magnifying glass at an angle so that you can see a bright dot. Make sure that the dot is on your bowl. Hold the magnifying glass steady until you start to see smoke. Once your bowl is lit enough, puff away! Dry Spaghetti Noodle/ Toothpick This trick also requires use of your stove. Heat your stove on high for a few minutes. Take a dry spaghetti noodle and hold it to the burner. Once the end catches on fire, use it to light your bowl. Make sure to put the fire out, so you don’t inadvertently burn yourself or start a fire, someplace besides your bowl. Repeat as necessary until you are sufficiently high. This method also works if you want to light a blunt or joint without a lighter. A toothpick will also work as a makeshift match, but if you’re as klutzy as I am you’re more likely to burn yourself on accident. Candle This is a trick I’ve used quite a few times. It requires extra care because you don’t want to inhale wax, or spill it on your bowl. Light a candle using your stove. A brand new candle will be best for this, so the wax doesn’t pool. To avoid making a mess with wax, I’d recommend dumping the hot wax out of the candle onto a plate or another surface that won’t catch fire. This way you can tilt the candle like you would a lighter. You can also heat the wick enough so that you can pull some of it off of the candle, that way you can avoid dealing with wax altogether. Featured Image Source: Imgur---Not having a lighter doesn’t have to ruin your plans. There are a few tricks that you can use that will get you by until you can find a flame. As always, exercise caution when you are experimenting with new ways to smoke without a lighter or matches. Do you want to buy a lighter for the next time? Check out our lighters. How have you solved this conundrum? Let us know in the comments!
